“My lease does not permit me to underlet it.”
“I think it would be cruel to take Lilian away from her own pleasant home, when she wishes to remain here so much,” continued Mrs. Oliphant, a little more sharply than she had yet spoken. “But, of course, it is none of my business and I do not wish to interfere between you.”
After supper, I saw Lilian alone in our room. She was as resolute as a little tiger. She positively refused to go into the English basement house, or to have anything to do with it.
“I think you have insulted my mother,” she added.
“Insulted her!” I exclaimed, rather startled by this new charge which had evidently been put into her brain by “dear ma.”
“She has made her arrangements to board us, and now you want to go away.”
“She hasn’t made any arrangements at all. Not an article of furniture has been added to the house.”
“She says she has; and I think she knows best,” retorted Lilian, sharply.
“You have spoken to me every day for a month about furnishing our room.”
“I think we ought to furnish it.”